Removal of Al(III) Ions Using Gellan Gum-Acrylic Acid Double Network Hydrogel

The objectives of this research were to evolve a gellan gum based double network (DN) hydrogel with high mechanical properties, and investigate its potential as an adsorbent to remove Al(III) ion. The double network hydrogel was synthesized for the first time in the literature, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy were utilized for structural and morphological characterization. Gellan gum hydrogel was characterized in terms of mechanical strength. The Al(III) removal behaviour studies were performed in 100 ppm aqueous Al(III) solution, and the kinetic data were correlated with the models of pseudo-first order and second-order. In addition, the equilibrium adsorption data were applied to Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. Moreover, the DN hydrogel adsorption capacities were calculated for the regeneration and reuse studies. The DN hydrogel could be used at least five times without significant decreasing in its adsorption capacity. In this work, the possibility of the mechanically developed strong DN hydrogel was observed for Al(III) ion removal behaviour.